The Conquest of _Appragah_ gave the King an easy Entrance into the Heart of the Country; but he was obliged to halt there by a river, which runs about half a Mile to the northward of the principal Town of the _Whidaws_, called _Sabee_, the Residence of their King. Here the King of _Dahomè_ encamped for some time, not imagining he could have found so easy a Passage and Conquest as he met with afterwards. For the Pass of the River was of that Nature, it might have been defended against his whole Army, by five hundred resolute Men; but instead of guarding it, these cowardly luxurious People, thinking the fame of their numbers sufficient to deter the _Dahomes_ from attempting it, kept no set Guard. They only went every Morning and Evening to the River side, to _make Fetiche_ as they call it, that is, to offer Sacrifice to their principal God, which was a particular harmless _Snake_ they adored, and prayed to on this occasion, to keep their Enemies from coming over the River. [Sidenote: Snakes worshipped.] And, as worshiping a Snake may seem very extravagant to such as are unacquainted with the Religion of the _Negroes_, I shall inform the Reader of the Reasons given for it by the People of _Whidaw_. This sort of Snake is peculiar to their Country, being of a very singular Make; for they are very big in the middle, rounding on the Back like a Hog, but very small at the Head and Tail, which renders their Motion very slow. Their Colour is yellow and white, with brown Streaks; and so harmless, that if they are accidentally trode on (for it is a capital Crime to do it wilfully) and they bite, no bad Effect ensues; which is one Reason they give for their worshipping of them. Moreover, there is a constant Tradition amongst them, that whenever any Calamity threatens their Country, by imploring the Snake’s Assistance, they are always delivered from it. However this fell out formerly, it now stood them in no stead; neither were the Snakes themselves spared after the Conquest. For they being in great Numbers, and a kind of domestick Animals, the Conquerors found many of them in the Houses, which they treated in this manner: They held them up by the middle, and spoke to them in this manner: _If you are Gods, speak and save your selves_: Which the poor Snakes not being able to do, the _Dahomes_ cut their Heads off, ripped them open, broiled them on the Coals, and eat them. It is very strange, the Conquerors should so far contemn the Gods of this Country, since they are so barbarous and savage themselves, as to offer human Sacrifices whenever they gain a Victory over their Enemies; an Eye-Witness to which I was, as hereafter shall be related.